get on

verb

got on; got on or gotten on; getting on; gets on

intransitive verb

1

: get along

was getting on in years

got on well with the boss

get on with the game

2

: to gain knowledge or understanding

got on to the racket

transitive verb

1

: to produce an unfortunate effect on : upset

the noise got on my nerves

2

: to criticize insistently

the fans got on him for losing the game

Synonyms of get on

• cope
• do
• get by
• get along
• make do
• make ends meet

Examples of get on in a Sentence

despite his new job's low pay, he was still getting on

find out how the marketing department is getting on with the new ad campaign

Recent Examples on the Web

The ease of getting on and off the 190-guest vessel, combined with walkability to Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward and the late departure, made bonus sightseeing possible, something that would have been more challenging on many ocean cruises. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 June 2026

After scoring a touchdown in Philadelphia against the Eagles in 2017, Beckham got on all fours and lifted his leg, pretending to urinate in the end zone in one of his more odd celebrations. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026

There’s already a proposal before Congress and some members are starting to get on board. —Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026

During one of their early meetings, Castillo got on the whiteboard and described a basic pass protection in which every lineman slides over and blocks a gap. —Mike Defabo, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for get on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

get on

verb

1

: get along sense 3

they got on well

2

: to start dealing with

I'll get on it right away

3

: to criticize (someone) repeatedly

4

: to grow old